Hog-trap.



PATENTED FEB. 1a, 1906.

A. AUGHLY.

HOG TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. a, 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

A. AUCHLY.

HOG TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1905.

PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

No. 812,391. PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906. A. AUGHLY.

HOG TRAP.

APPLICATION rum) JAN. 3, 1905.

EEBTSSHEBT 3.

gg gk 6; 6/ /0 I PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

A. AUOHLY.

HOG TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEBT 4.

PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906.

A. AUOHLY.

HOG TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED-TAN. s, 1905.

5 $HEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITE STATES PATET @FFIGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1906.

Application filed January 3, 1905. Serial No. 239,432.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT AUoHLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montgomery City, in the county of Montgomery and State of Missouri, have invented a cer tain new and useful Hog-Trap, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are to provide a hog-trap of simple, durable, and inexpensive construction, especially designed for use in holding hogs or other animals in such manner that an operator may have convenient and easy access to'the animals snout for the purpose of putting a ring therein.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the complete trap. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of same. same. Fig. 4 shows a front elevation of same. Fig. 5 shows a rear elevation of same. Fig. 6 shows a vertical central sectional View of the forward end of the device, the dotted lines indicating the open position of the hinged front. Fig. 7 shows a vertical central sectional view of the complete trap, the dotted lines indicating the elevated position of the movable platform. Fig. 8 shows a detail perspective view of the movable platform in its position for holding an animal, one of the shields at the front of the platform removed. Fig. 9 shows a detail perspective view of a modified form of one of the platform-pieces and the shield, and Fig. 10 shows a side view of same.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate the front cross-piece of the base, and 11 the rear cross-piece. Mounted on the front cross-piece is a metal arch 12, the ends of which are secured to the crosspiece 10 and strengthened by the brackets 13 at the point where they connect with the cross-piece 10. Secured to the front of the cross-piece 10 are two channel-bars 14, projecting forwardly and provided with openings for purposes hereinafter made clear. Mounted on the rear cross-piece 11 is a metal arch 15, the ends of which are connected to the cross-piece 11 and strengthened at the point of connection by the brackets 16. Sev 3 shows a top or plan view of cured to the sides of the arches 11 are the plates 17, provided with openings 18 to receive rails.

The machine-frame is composed of wooden sides 19, secured to the arches 12 and 15. At the top central portions of the sides 19 are the arched metal strips 20, supporting the bars 21, which are designed to form a top for the trap.

Secured to the inner surface of the rear ends of the sides 19 are two channel-bars 22, designed to receive a trapdoor. This door is composed of three uprights 23, connected by cross-pieces 24. The side edges of the outer uprights 23 are inserted in the channelbars 22 to be capable of vertical movement therein. At the top of the central upright 23 is a hook 25, projecting through an opening in the central upright 23 and provided with a shoulder 26, designed to normally stand in position where it will engage the under surface of the top of the arch 15, as shown in Fig. 7, to thereby prevent upward movement of the trap-door. A handle 27 is provided on the hook 25, which the operator may press to throw the shoulder 26 out of engagement with the arch 15. Near the lower end portion of the central upright 23 is a sec ond hook 28, pivotally supported and projected through an opening 29 in the said central upright. This hook is provided with a shoulder 30 and a handle 31 .and is so arranged that when the trap-door is elevated the shoulder 30 will engage and rest on top of the center of the arch and hold the trapdoor against downward movement. When in this position, the operator may press upon the handle 31 and remove the shoulder from engagement with the arch and permit the trap-door to move downward to its lower limit, thus providing a trap-door that may be locked either at its upper or lower limit of movement.

The platform at the base of the device comprises two parallel longitudinal base-pieces 32, spaced apart from each other and connected to the front cross piece 10 by means of the loops 33. Pivoted to the rod 34 which is secured to the cross-piece 10, the central portion of the strips 32 are provided with a sheet-metal cover 34 for purposes hereinafter made clear. The remainder of the base comprises a central strip 35 of a width less than the space between the strips 32. The forward end thereof is rounded and provided with a rounded sheet-metal cover 36, a cross-piece 37 is attached to the strip 35, and attached to the ends of the crosspiece 37 are two longitudinal side strips 38, arranged adjacent to the outer edges of the strips 32. The numeral 39 indicates a rod fixed to the strip 35 and pivotally connected with the strips 32 to form a pivot upon which the strips 32 may turn relative to the strip 35. At the rear end portion of the strips 35 and 38 I have pivoted a crank-shaft 39 the end portions of which extend forwardly and are pivoted in the brackets 40, secured to the sides of the frame. In use with this portion of the device the strips 32, 35, and 38 form a fiat platform when in their lowered position, the rear ends of all of the strips resting on the top of the cross-piece 11'. The front ends of the strips 32 are held adjacent to the crosspiece 10, and the strips 32 rest on top of the cross-piece 37 and a crank-shaft 39*, thus forming a firm platform. If the rear ends of the strips 32 are elevated, the front ends of said strips form a fulcrum, and the strips 35 and 38 are moved upwardly and forwardly by the strips 32, and when this is done the crankshaft 39 elevates the rear end of the strips 35 and 38 to the same extent as the front end is elevated. This position of the parts is illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 7.

I have provided for elevating the rear ends of the strips 32 as follows: Mounted u on said rear ends are the bearings 41, an in these bearings is pivotally mounted a tube 42 with its ends turned at right angles. Fixed to the sides 19 at their upper forward edges are the bearings 43, in which a shaft 44 is rotatably mounted. On the end portion of this shaft I have fixed the drums 45, and to these drums I have fixed the ends of a cable 46, the central portion of which is run through the tube 42. On one end of the shaft 44 I have fixed a ratchet-wheel 47, engaged by a spring-actuated pawl 48. A handle 49 is connected to said pawl, whereby it may be withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet-wheel. A crank 50 is attached to the adjacent end of the shaft 44, by which the shaft may be rotated. In use with this portion of the device and assuming the platform to be in its lowered osition, then the operator rotates the crank 50, thus winding the ends of the cable 46 and elevating the strips 32 of the platform to an angle of about forty-five degrees and at the same time elevating the remaining strips of the platform to a position substantially horizontal at some distance above the bottom of the trap. When it is desired to lower the platform, the operator simply pulls upon the handle 49, thus permitting the weight of the platform to unwind the drums and permitting the platform to drop. At the forward ends of the strips 38 adjacent to the rounded portion 36 I have fixed the shields 51 to the inner edges of said strips 38. These shields are made of metal and project upwardly adjacent to the sides of the trap-frame and are for the purpose of preventing an animals body from scraping against the sides of the trap-frame when the platform is being elevated. In Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings the modified form of shield is formed of a cast-metal body 51 and formed with a lug 51 to overlap the top of the strip 38, to which it is bolted, and a strengthening-rib 51*, extending to its front end. At the top of the part 51 is a sheetmetal extension 51, thus forming a shield of great strength and light weight.

The pivoted front is supported upon two brackets 52, which are secured to the inner front portions of the sides 19. On each bracket I have formed a dovetailed groove 53, 0 en at the front end. I have also provide openings in each bracket to receive a pin 54. The numeral 55 indicates a metal cross-piece having rounded projections 56 at its ends provided with enlarged heads 57. These projections, with the heads thereon, are designed to enter the dovetailed grooves 53 from the front and to pass back of the openings to receive the pins 54, so that said pins when inserted will serve to prevent the removal of the cross-piece 55, and the heads 57 will serve to prevent the sides 19 from springing apart, and the brackets form a pivotal support for the cross-piece 55. meral 58 indicates a handle projecting upwardly from the cross-piece 55, and formed on the rear face of the cross-piece 55 are two lugs 59. Fixed to these lugs are the tubes 60, which extend downwardly far enough to enter the channel-bars 14. In each of the tubes 60 I have mounted a sliding rod 61,the upper end of which is formed with a loop 62, and the lower end is designed to project into the opening of the channel-bar 14.

I have provided for elevating both of the rods 61 at the same time as follows: Formed on top of the cross-piece 55 are the bearings 63, in which a rod 64 is rotatively mounted and held in place by the pins 65. At the center of the rod 64 I have formed a handle 66, and the ends of the rod 64 are projected rearwardly and connected with the loops 62 of the rods 61. In this way a movement of the handle 66 toward the handle 58 will cause the rods 61 to be elevated out of the openings in the channel-bars 14.

Connected to the front of the trap are two guide-boards 67, extending from a point near the cross-piece 10 to a point near the top of the frame, and said guide-boards also extend from a point near the sides of the machineframe forwardly and inwardly, with their inner ends spaced apart far enough to permit an animals snout to project through be tween them. These boards are supported as follows: The numeral 68 indicates a castmetal arch having openings therein to receive the tubes 60, the arched portion pro- The nulIO jecting forwardly between said tubes. Each arch is formed with a lateral extension 69, which is bolted to the guide-boards 67, thus firmly holding the guide-boards in place and serving to support the tubes 60 and hold them in position relative to the guide-boards and the cross-piece 55. Assuming the pivoted front to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen that if an animal isplaced upon the platform and the platform elevated the animals snout will project through between the .guide-boards 67, which guideboards will prevent the animals'head from projecting through between them, and the arches 67 are extended forwardly far enough so that the animals snout will not be en gaged by them. When the opera-tor has placed a'ring in the animals snout, he grasps the handle 66 and moves it forwardly, thus withdrawing the rods 61 from engagement with the channel-bars 14, and the weight of the animal tends to tilt the lower end of the front forwardly. The operator assists in this movement of the front by pushing rearwardly upon the handle 58 at the top, and as the animal moves downwardly and forwardly out of the trap the lower arch 68 is of such shape that the animals snout will 'not strike upon it. After the animal has passed out of the trap the front is swung backwardly upon its pivot and the handle 66 released, so that the rod 61 may automatically lock in the channel-bars 14. If it is desired to bodily remove the front, the operator need only remove the pins 54, whereupon the cross-piece 55 may be removed. from the bars 5 Furthermore, the arrangement of the cross-piece is such that it will prevent the sides of the frame from springing apart.

In practical operation and assuming that the pivoted front is in its closed position and the trap-door at the rear is in its closed position, and assuming, further, that fence-rails are placed in the loops 18 at the rear of the machine, then the operator drives a number of animals toward the trap and they are guided by the rails in the loops 17 toward the rear end of the trap. When the platform is in its lowered position, the operator elevates the rear trap-door and the said trap-door is automatically held in its elevated position by the hook 28. Then one animal enters the trap and stands on top of the platform, whereupon the operator grasps the handle 31 and permits the trap-door to drop, thus preventing the animal from backing out of the frame. Then the operator manipulates the crank 50, as required to move the platform to its elevated position. When this is done, the animal slides forwardly on. the strips 32, which are covered with sheet metal to prevent the animal from gaining a foothold thereon, and the animal will then rest in position with his front legs astride the rounded portion 46 of the strip 35. The animals body is prevented from rubbing against the sides of the frame by the shields 51 and the animals snout is projected-'throughthe front. In this connection it is to benoted that on account of the top boards 21 an animal is prevented from backing upwardly on the strips 32 and out through the top of the frame, so that no matter how the animal may struggle it cannot remove its snout from between the guide-boards 67. After the operation of ringing the animalssnout iscompleted the operator manipulates the handle'66 to thereby release the front, so thatjit may swing for wardly at its lower end and permit the animal to pass out. Then the platform is lowered and the trap is ready to receive asec ond animal. In this way the operation of ringing animals snouts may be easily and quickly accomplished without danger of hurting the animal, and a simple, durable, and inexpensive trap is provided.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor, -is- 1. In amachine of the'class'described, the

combination of sides, two parallel platform- 1 strips pivoted at their forward ends, means for elevating their-rear ends,sheet-'metal covers for said strips, a strip between the parallel strips, means for pivoting the parallel strips to the strip between them at a point some distance from the front end thereof, a cross-piece fixed to the central strip in the rear of its pivotal point, two strips secured to the ends of said cross-piece adjacent to the outer edges of the parallel strips, rigid shields fixed to the inner forward ends of the outer strips and projected upwardly and a crankshaft having its central portion pivoted to the rear ends of the said central strip and the two outside strips and having its ends pivotally supported.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of sides, two channel-bars secured to the inner faces of the rear ends of the sides, an arch connected to the sides, a trap door slidingly mounted in the said channelbars, a gravity-hook at the top of the trapdoor to engage the under surface of the top of the arch when the trap-door is at its lower limit of movement and a gravity-hook mounted near the bottom of the trap-door to engage the top of the arch and support the trapdoor when at its upper limit of movement, for the purposes stated.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of sides, an arch at the rear of the sides for supporting them, two channelbars secured to the inner faces of the sides in the rear of the arches, a trap-door vertically movable in said channel-bars, a gravity-hook mounted near the top of the trap-door projected through an opening therein and formed with a handle at its upper end, said hook having a shoulder designed to engage the under IIO surface of the arch when the tra -'door is at its lower limit to prevent upwar movement of the trap-door, a hook near the bottom of the trap-door pivoted thereto and projected to an opening therein, said hook formed with a shoulder and handle, the handle on the rear face of the trap door, said hook designed when the trap-door is elevated to engage the top of the arch and hold the trap-door in its elevated position.

4, In a device of the class described, the combination of sides, brackets secured to the sides near the front thereof and formed with dovetailed grooves open at theirforward ends and a front having a cross-piece having proj ections with enlarged heads designed to enter the dovetailed grooves and to pivotally support the front and to prevent the sides from spreading.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of sides, brackets secured to the inner faces of the front ends of the sides and formed with dovetailed grooves open at their forward ends, a cross piece formed with rounded projections at its ends and enlarged heads on the rounded projections, said projections and heads designed to enter the dovetailed grooves and to pivotally support the cross-piece and to prevent the sides from spreading, pins passed through the brackets in front of the rounded ends, and a front secured to the said cross-piece.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of sides, a cross-piece pivotally supported at the forward ends of the sides, two metal tubes secured to the cross-piece, two metal arches having said tubes passed through them, the arches projecting in front of the tubes, said arches formed with extensions at their ends and two guide-boards bolt ed to the said extensions with their central portions spaced apart.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of sides, a front having a central vertically-arranged openin a platform,

means for tilting the rear end 0 the platform upwardly and two arched metal strips secured to the sides near the top thereof and boards secured to the under surface of said arched strips to prevent an animal on the tilted platform from backing up out of the top of the frame.

ALBERT AUOHLY. Witnesses:

SoLoN S. BRANDT, WM. H. H. HEATH. 

